METHODIST CONFERENCE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1931, Page 7

METHODIST CONFERENCE

MONEY NEEDED IN FOREIGN FIELD.

REPORTS TO CONFERENCE.

By Telegraph.—Brest Asseeiatioß. \ Dunedin, Last Night. The report of tie Women’s Missionary Union to the Methodist Conference stated the membership was now 2940, an increase of more than. 100 members. The year had commenced with 43 auxiliaries and closed with. 48. The income for the year was £2590, an increase of £7O over last year’s. The union was now. turning its attention to the advancement of the work among Maori girls . and it was hoped to establish a training home on a small scale in Auckland. The report of the children’s .fund showed the expenditure was £75 13s Id more than the income and the committee was of opinion that a levy of 7 J per cent, would be sufficient for th© ensuing year. ' The financial statement of the - Foreign Missionary Society for 1930 disclosed an income of £15,249 9s and ah expenditure of £21,414 3s Id, leaving a debit balance of £8164 14s Id.,The Board of Foreign Missions estimated that the income for 1931 would be £14,500 and that the expenditure would be £10,500. On' the motion of the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, general-secretary of th© board, it was decided “that. £14,000 be regarded as tha extreme limit of expenditure on the mission field, that the chairman he asked if he can bring the expenditure • within that amount and if this is not possible that he be requested to indicate what steps'must be taken to reduce the expenditure to the amount of £14,000, that an S.O.S. appeal be sent out to provide special help or a general fund of £5OOO sufficient to cover the difference between the estimated ordinary in- , come and the expenditure of thijs year amounting to £2OOO to prevent the withdrawal of Workers from the field and to assist in placing the mission in a more satisfactory financial position, that contributions to the S.O.S. fund extend over a period of three years if so desired, that the financial position be reviewed at the end of July and if the result of the S.O.S. appeal be not then regarded as sufficiently satisfactory certain workers be withdrawn from the mission field.” With reference to the future medical policy in the islands the missions board recommended: — • “That Dr. Sayers return to the mission field for a further terpi of service and that the future medical policy of ths mission be not definitely determined until the result of the S.O.S. appeal be known. “That the board is of opinion tjiat there should be only one base hospital in the mission district located at Bilua or other suitable central place. It is not suggested that one doctor is to bei withdrawn.” On the recommendation of the ‘board it was decided that the Roviana circuit be divided, that the portion of present circuit situated in the British Solomops fe constituted a circuit to be named the Roviana circuit, that the portion of the present circuit situated in the mandated territory of New Guinea be constituted a circuit and named the Bougainville ancl Buka circuit and that the Rev. J. R. Metcalfe be appointed superintendent of the Bougainville and Buka circuit.

It was further decided, that the board take into full consideration at the earliest possible date the future of the Banga plantation and that the chairman of the mission district be communicated with concerning the possibility of reducing considerably working expenses of the plantation until the price of copra increases and that the working expenses on other plantations be reduced to a minimum. '

A deputation from the League of Nations Union which was introduced by the Rev, H. E. Bellhouse waited on the conference and appealed to the members to use their influence to further the-' aims of the union and acquaint their people with its ideals. The Rev. C. Eaton, New Plymouth, who replied on behalf of the conference, assured the deputation of the whole-hearted support of the conference and stated tjiat he trusted to » qiufici#ion of manhood at no distant date.